Covenant Groups

One of the best ways to develop relationships with other members and friends in our congregation is by participating in a Covenant Group, one of the UUC small groups of 6 to 12 people that meet regularly for discussion, shared exploration and sometimes an activity that benefits the Congregation or a community organization.

Covenant Groups are small groups in which members agree to a certain set of expectations created by the group. Covenant Groups give our members and friends a safe place to discuss ideas and beliefs.

We value the opportunities that our small groups offer especially as our congregation grows in size. We recognize that it is often difficult for people to connect on a busy Sunday morning. Attending a Covenant Group can lead to meaningful friendships.

What will a small group do for you? To use a cliché, it depends both on what you put into it and what you want out of it. For some people, their contribution may sometimes simply be their presence at a meeting; there is no compulsion to speak or comment. Others may find opportunities that never existed – to broaden their knowledge; to talk about things they’ve wanted to explore; to learn about others’ experiences.

Depending on the desires of the group members, the overall focus of the group may be spiritual or “religious” in their emphasis. However, the topics at their cores may be almost endless. Some are formed around some aspect of overt spirituality – the quest for meaning, our personal journeys, Zen or yoga, good and evil, meditation, etc. Some groups center on issues of peace, humanism, or social justice. Others have a practical bent: cooking, computers, quilt-making, woodworking, parenting, etc.

UUC members and friends determine what their small groups will do. After joining a group, the members decide the range and emphases of their joint interests and the topics they will deal with.

Here are some of the current Covenant Groups at UUC:

• The Anarchists covenant group always has an empty chair and welcomes new members. Members decide on the topic for each meeting. The group has discussed such diverse things as fathers, how we use our time, and chocolate. The members are governed by their own instincts.
• The Spirit covenant group usually chooses a book on spirituality to discuss, although the group has also watched videos and discussed articles from magazines or the Web.
• The Eclectics covenant group follows the standard format for Small Group Ministry, which includes a UU related reading, Chalice lighting, check-in, and discussion of a theme or subject decided on by the group at the preceding meeting. Past subjects for discussion have included faith, death, our relationship to the earth, abundance, books that have affected our lives, end-of-life preparation, and a myriad of others.
• There are currently three Parents of Young Children covenant groups. Each group starts with a potluck that includes the children. The children then move to another part of the home or building with paid childcare.
• The Young Adults (ages 18-35) sponsor a covenant group that meets for monthly get-togethers and activities.
• The Knitters covenant group (for women) meets and provides extra help with knitting. Learn to knit while discussing women’s issues.

 To find out more information, contact the Covenant Group Coordinator.